Environment/IDE?

Can anyone tell me what a good IDE should have, or what to look for in choosing a programming environment?

This is what I am looking for -

Free (got no $$)
Educational use (license or whatever)
Tells you when you do stupid things (like forgetting ; at the end of a line and stuff)

This is what I use -

djgpp compiler
pcgrasp IDE for little programs
jgrasp IDE for big programs (folding scopes)

I find them somewhat useful, in that they are better than anything else I have tried, which is nothing.


I am new to this board, so if this is OT please tell me.

download bloodshed dev c/c++/windows compiler. it's a high quality, free IDE.

I think your next move is to Bloodshed's DevC++. It's free.
I use the MSVC++ compiler and I'll be checking out Borland's C++ Builder this week so I'll be able to comment on it later (I like using JBuilder).
http://www.bloodshed.net/

Thanks. I d/led Dev, and it works great!

Not as simple as pcgrasp, but lotsa features.

Thanks alot guys.